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The medical field has always struggled with inevitability because its primary mission is to prevent or delay death. This fact creates an internal tension and can impact and shape many aspects of medicine from diagnosis to therapeutic approaches. Historically, the struggle with inevitability found fertile ground within certain human diseases, some of which are now affecting an ever-growing number of individuals. The first example that comes to my mind relates to cardiovascular

The Mediterranean diet is a diet adopted for more than 2000 years by people living in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, which include, among others, Italy, Greece. Spain, and North Africa. It is characterized by daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, legumes, nuts, unrefined cereals, and olive oil, and weekly intake of fish and lean meat such as chicken, and a very limited amount of sugar. Overall, a diet which emphasizes mostly plant-based food but most impor

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that profoundly impacts the brain structure and function resulting in pathological cognitive decline and memory loss. Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer's disease encompasses more than just memory loss. In fact, while memory impairment is a commonly recognized symptom, Alzheimer’s can manifest in various signs and symptoms that go beyond memory-related issues. Among them, diminishing communication skills is on

It has been 14 years since September was for the first time declared as World Alzheimer’s Month, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and challenging the stigmas surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia worldwide and disseminate knowledge. The month-long celebration is characterized by a series of events designed to educate more people about the disease and its impact on patients and their families. It will culminate on September 21st, a day also known

A hallucination is an experience of something that does not exist, a perception of something in the absence of an external stimulus that has qualities of a real one. It can involve any of our five senses, and for this reason we can divide hallucinations into five groups: Visual hallucinations – seeing flashing lights, people, animals or objects. Auditory hallucinations – hearing voices or footsteps. Olfactory hallucinations – smelling things such as smoke or perfume Tactile

The human brain is the master regulator in charge of receiving, interpreting, and responding to various sensory inputs from the environment. However, disturbances of this process have an effect on general brain health and can manifest as hyper-sensitivity, or hypo-sensitivity thereby impinging upon an individual's capacity to function optimally in daily life. The five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. The “sensory diet” is not food but a program of structured ac

Our brain is considered a “protected” organ in the body since it is surrounded by an anatomical structure made of different cell types that controls what can go inside and what can exit. The structure is called “the blood brain barrier” and as the name suggests, it is a “barrier” that acts like a gatekeeper to the brain. Normally, it keeps harmful things out and hold “good” things in. It also controls how various chemical molecules (including compounds we need or even make ou

Often when we think about an individual with dementia, a condition characterized by a significant decrease in memory skills and cognitive abilities, we think about someone who is typically an older adult of 65 or more, and most likely affected by a chronic neurodegenerative condition such as Alzheimer’s disease. Surprisingly, this is not always the case since children and adolescents can also be affected by progressive cognitive decline, learning and memory problems (aka deme

It was almost 40 years ago that for the first time June was designated as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. Over the years, the event grew bigger and expanded to become a global movement known as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. Since its official color is purple, so this month let’s all go “purple” to show our support. This month let’s all go “purple” to show our support. I believe that it is a wonderful occasion for all of us to showcase our relent

What is longevity? In a nutshell human longevity can be defined as the ability to live beyond the average one’s life expectancy. However, longevity should not be confused with “lifespan”, the number of years we live, it should be intended more like the “health span” since it refers to a longer than average life but with an emphasis on maintaining both physical and mental well-being. In recent years, longevity has become also a field of medicine and biology which focuses on st

Sarcopenia is a clinical condition that is often overlooked; consequently, it can easily lead to a cascade of events that seriously compromise the general health and independence of the affected individual. The word "sarcopenia" originally derives from the ancient Greek and is formed by the combination of two words: sarx (σάρξ), meaning "muscle" or "flesh," and penia (πενία), meaning "poverty" or "deficiency." Thus, when we speak of sarcopenia, we are referring to a condition

During a recent trip to the Greek island of Kos, the birthplace of Hippocrates, I rediscover some of the reasons why its most famous son is considered a giant not only for medicine, but for human civilization. Born around 460 BC, Hippocrates is typically considered the "father of modern medicine" because he was the first to separate medicine from religion. He transformed healing from superstition into a rational, evidence-based type of science. He was a revolutionary for his

The research landscape of Alzheimer's disease has changed, the future is at hand. A future when early diagnosis is going to be a routine process. A time when we could know a decade or two in advance if an individual will develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. A future when we can immediately and proactively intervene with therapies and other strategies targeting modifiable risk factors. A future when an early diagnosis is not for “giving up” but for “acting o

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic degenerative disease of the Central Nervous System that impairs primarily the motor skills and speech of the individual who is affected by. It belongs to a group of medical conditions generally called "movement disorders". From a clinical point of view, it is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor at rest, a slowing of physical movement, and, in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. Symptoms of PD have been known since ancient t

High protein diets are becoming among the most popular particularly among young-adult people. While some dietary plans promote the daily use of a supplement (like protein shakes for body builders or gym goers), others suggest simply a larger than usual portion of a protein-rich diet to be consumed regularly. The question is: is this good for our health?

There is no doubt that today most of us the moment we have a question or a concern about our health, or the health of a loved one promptly look up at the internet to find more about it, or as we often say: “we google about it” (if chrome is the search engine of choice). For instance, if memory problems or possible Alzheimer’s disease/dementia is our concern, there are a host of websites from government agencies, hospitals, health centers, research centers, and commercial ent

Age is the best-known risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. Besides age, another strong risk factor is a gene (a piece of DNA) called apolipoprotein E (APOE), which can exist as E2, E3 or E4. Of the three variants, only APOE4 increases the risk of Alzheimer’s significantly. Having APOE4 gene means you need to be proactive about prevention and follow healthy lifestyle (exercise, diet, socialize) to riduce the negative impact of APOE4 on brain health.

Lewy Body Dementia is an overlooked and often misunderstood clinical condition. When we think of dementia, very often we think of Alzheimer’s disease since it is the most frequent cause of dementia in the elderly. However, Lewy body dementia (LBD) is another common type of progressive dementia, and one of the most complex to diagnose and manage.

At the onset of a new year, it's a common practice for many of us to formulate resolutions, driven by sincere intentions to uphold them. Resolutions centered around embracing a healthier lifestyle often claim the top spot on our lists. The appeal lies in their simplicity and the assurance of long-term benefits. While understanding the benefits of a healthy lifestyle is straightforward, embodying these principles daily is where the challenge often lies. The crux of this challe

We are now in the middle of what we call the “Holiday Season”, a period of time from Thanksgiving until New Year, which includes various celebrations like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. It is always a special time of the year, or as the song says, “ It’s the most wonderful time of the year! ”. In general, the holiday season is about connection, generosity, reflection, and honoring a rich variety of diverse traditions, and encompassing all of